Forecasters warned that the slow-moving behemoth, with tropical storm-force winds extending across 650 miles, could span multiple tides with a storm surge of 4 to 8 feet in Long Island Sound, the southern portion of Lower New York Bay and Delaware Bay.

Rain accumulations of up to 12 inches were likely in some areas, the National Weather Service warned.

It's all hands on deck as emergency preparedness ramps up for Hurricane Sandy preparations. With multiple states and the District of Columbia declaring states of emergencies, TODAY's Al Roker tracks the storm.